Sermon Cloud

There are entire sections of your local bookstore full of books on leadership, and they are specific to every occupation and every field.  Guys like John Maxwell and Seth Godin make a pretty good living putting out book after book as it seems that no one grows tired of reading about leadership.

• If you are a manager, there are books for managing.
• If you are an entrepreneur, there are books for starting a business.
• If you are a CEO, there are books for running your company.
• I’ve seen leadership books about the styles of everyone from Jesus to Buddha to Donald Trump to Winnie the Pooh.  I’ve even seen one about the leadership style of Attila the Hun.
  • Either way, if folks have an effective model for communicating the habits and patterns of a good leader, people are going to buy that book.
  • I guess the reason these books are so popular is because great leadership truly is a rare commodity.  It is possible for a church, a business, or a family to succeed without a great leader at the helm, but the odds are stacked against it happening. 
    • Proverbs 11:4 makes that clear:  Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
    • Now, I’m not sure what everyone’s experiences have been like. 
      • Maybe as a child, your parents led your family in a Godly manner. 
      • Maybe you had a teacher or a coach somewhere along the way that inspired you do more and try more.
      • I have heard from several of you about mentors in the workplace that have walked you along the way helping you excel at your job.
      • Unfortunately, though, I imagine the exact opposite is true as well.
        • Poor parenting leadership places every obstacle possible in the way of a child succeeding, and some of you have dealt with that.
        • A company can have the greatest product possible, but with poor leadership, no one may know about it.  Some of you have lost jobs for that very reason.
        • I think in my years, I’ve experienced examples of both the bad and the good as I’m sure many of you have.
          • During my brief two year stint in sells, I worked for a company that had an incredible product.  They made a nice niche for themselves and built a loyal fan base.  But they also couldn’t manage their money, expanded too soon and went out of business a few years later.  Leadership or the lack thereof, killed them.
          • But I have also seen incredible leadership.  My mentor, Terry Traylor took me from a church visitor eating Mexican food with him at a restaurant to a seminary grad and equipped church planter in a little less than 6 years.  He did it by casting vision, being open and broken, exposing me to great people, and giving me fantastic leadership opportunities. 
          • Getting to this point was as much due to him and his investment in me as it was anything that I ever did.

• Well, the scriptures definitively speak to leadership. 
  • Husbands are told to lead their wives in understanding (I Peter 3:7)
  • Older women are told to lead the younger women in loving their husbands and their children (Titus 2:4)
  • Leaders in the church are told to lead by watching over the souls of the flock (Heb 13).
  • But the Bible speaks to more than just leadership.  It sees leading as a larger issue than that.  The scriptures speak about headship which is a term that describes how within a covenant, people rise and fall depending up on who their covenant head is and what kind of life they live.  For example.
    • Romans 5 says that Adam is the head of the human race.  How did that work out?
    • Ephesians 5:23 says that the Jesus is the head of the church.
    • You see, headship does encompass leadership but it is much more deep than mere leadership.  Well this week, in Romans, Paul is going to discuss the Godly legacies and heads of three of the covenants that we fall under.  Paul is going to discuss what the implications are for their obedience and their disobedience. 
      • Understanding this is incredibly important for the living of the Christian life, the proclamation of the Gospel, the raising of children, and basically every other aspect of your life. 
      • Because of these covenants, some choices in life are not entirely yours.  Some have been made for you, and some you will make yourself.
      • Some choices you have to make in light of choices that happened many long years ago, and if you don’t know that, it leaves you blind to what is truly needed and what is truly important.
      • I know that you might say, “You can’t tell me my choices have been made for me,” but let’s wait and see how scriptures informs us about that.
      • Despite how crucial the understanding of headship is, it is a topic rarely discussed in Christianity, so in light of that fact, here is our Big Picture Question for the week:

Big Picture Question:  In light of the legacies of the Godly and not so Godly people that have gone before you, whose headship are you following, and how will understanding these things change the way you live in each moment of each day?

Romans 5:12-21

5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

• When we read these passages, we see the legacy of two different men in scripture:  Adam and Moses.  Each are the heads of covenantal relationships with God. 
• First let’s look at Adam.  What was the legacy of Adam?
  • According to verse 12, the sin of the world came through Adam, and therefore death also came in through his sin and that plague spread to every human being.
    • God made a covenant with Adam in the Garden of Eden.  Adam was to enjoy God, work the fields, and lead his wife.  What Adam was not to do was to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
    • For faithfulness, God promised uninterrupted fellowship with Adam and His wife.  If Adam was unfaithful and sinned, God promised death.
    • You see choosing to disobey was not a slip up, hang up, or habit.  It would rebellion against God.  It was an attempt to overthrow the creator/creature distinction.
• So instead of Adam leading his wife and the whole human race in godliness, as the head of that covenant, Adam was caught picking his nose and losing his voice at the very time he should have been shooing away snakes.  He didn’t man up but instead willingly chose to sin thus bringing in sin and death for all the human race.
• Now the sin of Adam reigned in the hearts of every human being up until Moses. 
  • In the interim, we see Cain kill Abel.
  • We see God wipe out the whole earth except for Noah because sin was so great. 
  • We see Abraham and Hagar turning their relationship into a job with benefits.
  • Joseph’s brothers sell their him into slavery and lie to their dad telling him that Joseph was killed all because they didn’t like Joseph’s fashion sense.
  • No doubt, sin was reigning.
    • It was counted differently though.  Each human being lived with a guilty, seared conscience but did not have the express written word of God detailing both sin and salvation.
    • Those from Adam to Moses were guilty of sin even though they didn’t know the law.
    • But everyone going forward from Moses was guilty of violating God’ commands as well as what they knew in their hearts was sin.
    • Having said that, what was the legacy of Moses?
      • Well Moses was the head of the Mosaic Covenant that God made with His people.
      • His legacy is much greater than Adam’s.  Interestingly, what both did condemned the hearts of men, but one righteously condemned and the other unrighteously condemned.
      • Adam exposed the world the depths of their sinful hearts by sinning and thus giving us all a will to sin.
      • Moses on the other hand gave us the law of God which also exposed the depths of sin in our hearts, but Moses’ work was obedience to God whereas Adam’s was rebellion from God.
      • We see that we all fall into these covenants from Adam and Moses.
        • Every human being is born sinful with a desire to please self and sin and not please and obey God.  Sin reigns in your heart because of Adam.  Apart from God, every human willfully chooses to be like Adam.  It is in the nature and character of each human being to rebel against God.
        • You have a free will but that free will only choose sin apart from God’s enabling you to choose righteousness. 
        • Moses gives the law which shows each of you what the character of God is like and condemns your sinful actions showing you that God is displeased with anything that is not done with a desire to please Him according to what He says is pleasing. 
        • The law also saw that God’s heart was for providing a sacrifice for sin to restore relationship with His creation.
        • What a mess.  It sounds like each person desperately needs a rescuer.  The hope comes at the end of verse 14 that speaks of Adam being a type of the one to come.  Let’s find out what that means.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

• In middle school or junior high, did you ever do a compare and contrast paper?
  • That’s when you look at two things, for example two characters in a novel, and you write a paper detailing how these two things are similar and how they are different.
  • Let’s do that here to attempt to understand the work of Adam and the work of Jesus.
  • Paul speaks of the free gift of salvation functioning differently than the sin that is inherited from Adam, our head.  That is because the work of Adam and Jesus are very different.
    • Adam’s sinful covenantal trespass causes death for the human race.
    • However, Jesus also has a covenant.  His actions don’t condemn and kill.  His work brings in the grace of God and the free gift of grace for many.
    • In addition, the free gift of salvation produces a different result than Adam’s work.
      • Adam’s sinful trespass brought condemnation from God.
      • Jesus free gift of salvation brings justification with God.

• Sin and grace reign differently as well.
  • Sin reigned from the one man, Adam to all people.
  • But there is an abundance of grace and the gift of Jesus’ righteousness that reigns in the life of those that are in Jesus Christ.
  • So, that leaves every human being as a subject of some sort.  Something is every person’s Lord and King.  I know that is unpopular language in America as we our country is founded on not being anybody’s subjects.  That is probably why this topic is not discussed much.  But for every one of you, something is reigning in your life.  Something or someone is in charge. 
    • You are either subject to sin and it is reigning in your life as a child of Adam.
    • Or you are either subject to the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness as a child of Jesus.
    • Either sin reigns over your or grace reigns over you.
    • Again, much like I mentioned last week, these are no potentialities but realities.
      • Either sin reigns in your life or grace reigns in your life.
      • You are either a slave to self and sin or a slave to Jesus and righteousness.
      • I guess the big question is how do you know which one reigns?  Well consider the imagery used in Romans.  A subject takes their commands from whomever rules and reigns over them.  So, to help you know who you are and whether you are in Adam or in Jesus, you should ask yourself this question:  Whose commands and rules reign over you?
        • Now the first response might be to think that even though you have faith in Jesus, sin rules over you because you are not perfect; in fact far from it.
        • But if being in Jesus means perfection, I think we are all in trouble.  Look at the language of verse 18.  It is grace which is the forgiveness of sin that rules over you. 
        • Grace couldn’t rule if there was nothing to be gracious about.
        • Grace ruling in your life means that you are being actively forgiven for what you are doing, what you have done, and what you will do.
        • Having said that, let’s pursue the idea of which reigns in your heart because there is a tendency for every person in the south who has ever spent any time going to church to assume they have a relationship with Christ.  But I want your assurance of salvation or the knowledge of your lack of salvation to come from scripture alone and not from Sunday school or VBS attendance.
        • Here in Romans, a relationship with Christ is described as having grace and righteousness reign in your life.  Let’s explore what that looks like because a lot is stake.
          • You know lately, I have had the privilege of sitting down with several people who have been really honest with me.  I’ve been able to explain these important truths.
          • Every human being was created in the image of God.
          • Yet because sin entered into the world, that image is marred.  For example, you can have wisdom, know and be known like God but now because of sin, you don’t know Him inherently and you aren’t known by God inherently because sin makes you God’s enemy.
          • Since the penalty of that sin is death, you will either pay the penalty of sin of death yourself in hell or you need someone to pay it for you.
          • But just paying for you sin is not enough, to be able to once again have restored relationship with God, you also need righteousness and goodness.
          • God sends His son, Jesus to live as a man, and He lives the life of righteousness that every human being needs, and He pays the penalty of sin.
          • So as, Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
          • Now there have been countless people who have mouthed the words of Romans 10 yet nothing has ever happened in their heart.  How do you know if you have truly obeyed Romans 10:9-10?
            • Paul says that Grace and righteousness reign in your heart.  Again, ask yourself:
            • What reigns in your heart?  A desire to please self or a desire to please God?
            • What are the guiding principles by which you make your decisions?  What suits you best or what is pleasing to God?
            • When you lie, cheat, or steal, what happens in your heart?  Do you feel guilty but never change?  Do you confess your sin to God and then walk in repentance?
            • When you ask yourself about what God thinks about you, how do you decide?  Do you look to the goodness and grace of Jesus or do you look at your efforts and works?
            • Now I may have just scared you all to death which is not my intention.
            • Let me make things clear:  grace reigning means that your obedience is fueled by God’s forgiveness and that your confession of sin is fueled by God’s forgiveness.  It means that you only trust what God has done on your behalf for your relationship with Him.  You don’t trust anything else.
              • You cannot trust yourself and your efforts and expect to have a relationship with God.  Left to yourself, sin reigns.
            • Let me give you an example.  Ladies, how many times have you questioned or asked your husband if they love you?  You know, when you husband randomly walks through the room or takes out the trash and you all of a sudden say, “Do you love me,” and the husband is sure that this is a trick question.
              • What may or may not satisfy your heart but should is the Husband’s expressed desire to love you no matter what:  if you are faithful or unfaithful, if you are beautiful or not, if you are large or thin, if you are smart or ignorant.
              • The husband has to say and demonstrate by God’s help that He will love you no matter what, and you have to trust that alone.
            • That is the way God loves you.  Christ has earned everything necessary for the satisfaction of the Father, God loves you because He finds you beautiful not because you have made yourself beautiful.  Then you live in that love in a joyful relationship.
            • Paul begins to wrap these thoughts up in verses 18-21

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Paul gives us the big therefore as he brings his point to an end: 
  • Because of the sin of Adam, the world sins and that lead to your condemnation.  Everyone sins in Adam not just because of Adam.  That is the way covenant headship works.  That person does not just represent you; you stand with them.
  • Because of the righteous work of Jesus, every race and every nation can be led to be justified.
  • One man disobeyed, the many were made sinners.
  • One man obeyed the many were made righteous.
  • Paul goes on to say and it is hard to believe, but God gave the law to increase the trespass.  Yeah that’s what that says.  God gave the law to increase sinning. 
    • As you may or may not know, Sovereign King’s theology is called Reformed Theology or sometimes more simply called Calvinsim which speaks to God’s sovereignty in all thing including who and who is not elected to salvation.
    • Everyone always asks me questions about Calvinism asking, “If God predestined everything how is He not the author of sin?”  That question is not just for Calvinist. 
    • Paul makes it very clear:  the law increased the trespass.  It showed us our helplessness and our need for a Savior.
    • The good news is that even though the law increased sin, grace abounds more than sin. 
      • Do you hear that?  Sin increases but grace increases all the more.
      • Grace is not God’s back up plan to your sin.
      • God’s grace is more powerful than your sin.
      • Sin reigns in death, but righteousness reigns now leading people to eternal life with Jesus. 
      • Let’s wrap things up in this way.  A few week ago, we used the setup of the temple in the OT as a guide to help us apply things:
        • Outer Court:  Men and Women, Jews and Gentiles are allowed.
        • Inner Court:  Men and Priests only and sacrifices were offered.
        • Holiest of Holies:  Where the presence of God dwelled and priest only allowed to enter once a year to offer sacrifice for the people.
        • These very much function like the way we process ideas:
          • Outer Court:  the realm of culture and ideas.
          • Inner Court:  your thoughts and beliefs
          • Holiest of Holies:  your soul, you as a person.

• So let’s apply this to these truths:
  • Outer Court:  Every human being is reigned over by the sin of Adam.  Apart from God, every human being is left to their ends and desires which is a desire to sin.  Yet Christ, lives the life that Adam and we cannot and do not – a life or righteousness.  His death is the penalty for sin for those who have faith in Him.  His resurrection is the promise that the penalty of sin will be cover come.  Because of that, grace and forgiveness reign in the lives of those that are in Christ Jesus.
  • Inner Court:  Perhaps you say, “Yes, I think that’s right.  I am sinful.  I don’t choose to worship, serve, and obey God.  I need a Savior, and I need Jesus’ grace and forgiveness and righteousness.”  Or perhaps your thoughts swing the other way.  You say, “I don’t want people making choices for me whether they be good or bad.  I’m my own person, and I’ll stand on my own.”
  • Holiest of Holies:  Who are you?  As a person, in your heart and soul, who are you?  Does your heart cry out to Jesus as your only hope and source in this world or does it shake its first at God?  There is no indifferent middle ground.  Either sin rules in your heart or grace rules in your heart.
  • You know people will say to me all the time; they say, “Gordon, I’m struggling with this particular sin.  I so want it to go away, but I keep saying these certain things, thinking these certain things, or doing these certain things.  I pray to Jesus and read the scriptures, but so far, that sin hasn’t gone away.”
    • Now what is reigning in that person’s heart:  sin or grace?
    • Grace because if sin was reigning in their heart, they wouldn’t be reading the scriptures and praying and asking for Jesus’ help.
    • But if that same person sins and sins, feels guilty, but never asks for Jesus’ help or seeks out help from the scriptures, I think they should have some serious doubt going on in their heart and mind.  If you don’t call out for grace and forgiveness, then sin is reigning and grace is not.
    • Here are the two options for everyone sitting here. 
      • If you know Christ and you want grace to reign in your life all the more:
        • Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
• If you do not know Christ and sin is reigning in your life:
  • Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.